Santa Maria Assunta, Siena
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Siena Cathedral () is a medieval church in
Siena Siena ( , ; traditionally spelled Sienna in English; ) is a city in Tuscany, in central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. It is the twelfth most populated city in the region by number of inhabitants, with a population of 52,991 ...
, Italy, dedicated from its earliest days as a Roman Catholic Marian church, and now dedicated to the
Assumption of Mary The Assumption of Mary is one of the four Catholic Mariology#Dogmatic teachings, Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church. Pope Pius XII defined it on 1 November 1950 in his apostolic constitution as follows: It leaves open the question of w ...
. Since the early 13th-century the Siena Cathedral has been an important part of the Sienese identity. One way to see this is the continuous building projects constantly surrounding the cathedral from its earliest days, aiming at reinforcing and expanding this site. Indeed, it was the community of citizens that continually advocated for the cathedral to become one of the largest churches in Europe. For centuries the Cathedral acted as more than just a place of worship - it was the center of the city and a place to express civic pride. The cathedral was designed and completed between 1215 and 1263 on the site of an earlier structure. It has the form of a Latin cross with a slightly projecting
transept A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform ("cross-shaped") cruciform plan, churches, in particular within the Romanesque architecture, Romanesque a ...
, a
dome A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...
and a
bell tower A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell to ...
. The dome rises from a
hexagonal In geometry, a hexagon (from Greek , , meaning "six", and , , meaning "corner, angle") is a six-sided polygon. The total of the internal angles of any simple (non-self-intersecting) hexagon is 720°. Regular hexagon A regular hexagon is d ...
base with supporting columns. The dome was completed in 1264. The
lantern A lantern is a source of lighting, often portable. It typically features a protective enclosure for the light sourcehistorically usually a candle, a oil lamp, wick in oil, or a thermoluminescence, thermoluminescent Gas mantle, mesh, and often a ...
atop the dome was added by
Gian Lorenzo Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, ; ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 1598 – 28 November 1680) was an Italians, Italian sculptor and Italian architect, architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prom ...
. The bell tower has six bells, where the oldest one was cast in 1149. The nave is separated from the two aisles by semicircular arches. The exterior and interior are constructed of white and greenish-black marble in alternating stripes, with the addition of red marble on the façade. Black and white are the symbolic colors of Siena, etiologically linked to black and white horses of the legendary city's founders,
Senius and Aschius Senius and Aschius are the two legendary founders of Siena, Italy. They were brothers, sons of Remus, and thus Romulus was their uncle. Traditions developed in Siena, which can not be documented prior to the 16th century hold that after Romulus ...
. The finest Italian artists of that era completed works in the cathedral. These artists were Nicola and
Giovanni Pisano Giovanni Pisano () was an Italian sculptor, painter and architect, who worked in the cities of Pisa, Siena and Pistoia. He is best known for his sculpture which shows the influence of both the French Gothic and the Ancient Roman art. Henry Mo ...
,
Donatello Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), known mononymously as Donatello (; ), was an Italian Renaissance sculpture, Italian sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sc ...
,
Pinturicchio Pinturicchio, or Pintoricchio (, ; born Bernardino di Betto; 1454–1513), also known as Benetto di Biagio or Sordicchio, was an Italian Renaissance painter. He acquired his nickname (meaning "little painter") because of his small stature a ...
,
Lorenzo Ghiberti Lorenzo Ghiberti (, , ; 1378 – 1 December 1455), born Lorenzo di Bartolo, was an Italian Renaissance sculptor from Florence, a key figure in the Early Renaissance, best known as the creator of two sets of bronze doors of the Florence Baptister ...
, and
Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, ; ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 1598 – 28 November 1680) was an Italian sculptor and architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prominently the leading sculptor ...
. It was the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Siena, and from the 15th century that of the Archdiocese of Siena. It is now the seat of the
Archdiocese of Siena-Colle di Val d'Elsa-Montalcino In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated ...
.


Early history

The origins of the first structure are shrouded in legend. There was a 9th-century church with the
bishop's palace A bishop's palace is a form of ecclesiastical architecture constituting the official residence of a bishop.The term was not used in the British Isles until the Church of England was restructured following the Norman Conquest of 1066 AD. However, th ...
at the present location. In December 1058 a
synod A synod () is a council of a Christian denomination, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. The word '' synod'' comes from the Ancient Greek () ; the term is analogous with the Latin word . Originally, ...
was held in this church resulting in the election of
pope Nicholas II Pope Nicholas II (; c. 990/995 – 27 July 1061), otherwise known as Gerard of Burgundy, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 January 1059 until his death in 27 July 1061. At the time of his election, he was bish ...
and the deposition of the
antipope An antipope () is a person who claims to be Bishop of Rome and leader of the Roman Catholic Church in opposition to the officially elected pope. Between the 3rd and mid-15th centuries, antipopes were supported by factions within the Church its ...
Benedict X. There is a common myth that the cathedral was consecrated in 1179, but there is little evidence to support this idea. There is evidence that the consecration ceremony occurred on November 18, according to the ''Ordo Officiorum Ecclesiae senensis'', but without reference to a specific year. In 1196, the cathedral masons’
guild A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular territory. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradespeople belonging to a professional association. They so ...
, the ''Opera di Santa Maria'', was put in charge of the construction of a new cathedral. By 1215 there were already daily masses said in the new church. Beginning in 1226, city records show that black and white marble blocks were being transported to the cathedral, presumably to be used for the facade and bell tower. These records also note the payment of stone masons to work with the marble blocks.Tragbar, Klaus. (2015). ''Constructing a Cathedral. Notes on the Construction Management of Siena Cathedral''. Fifth International Construction History congress, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
PDF
/ref> The vaults and the
transept A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform ("cross-shaped") cruciform plan, churches, in particular within the Romanesque architecture, Romanesque a ...
were constructed in 1259–1260 at the order of the committee composed of city citizens. In 1259 Manuello di Ranieri and his son Parri carved the wooden
choir-stalls A choir, also sometimes called quire, is the area of a church or cathedral that provides seating for the clergy and church choir. It is in the western part of the chancel, between the nave and the sanctuary, which houses the altar and Church tab ...
, which were replaced about 100 years later and have now disappeared. In 1264, Rosso Padellaio helped create the copper sphere on top of the dome. The pulpit, one of the few original works to survive today, was made between 1265–1268 by
Nicola Pisano Nicola Pisano (also called ''Niccolò Pisano'', ''Nicola de Apulia'' or ''Nicola Pisanus''; /1225 – ) was an Italian sculpture, sculptor whose work is noted for its classical Ancient Rome, Roman sculptural style. Pisano is sometimes considered ...
and his followers. This group was most likely also responsible for carving the main altar. The ''Opera di Santa Maria'' ordered stained glass for a large, round window in 1287. A second massive addition of the main body of the cathedral was planned in 1339. It would have more than doubled the size of the structure by means of an entirely new nave and two aisles ranged perpendicular to the existing nave and centered on the
high altar An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religion, religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, Church (building), churches, and other places of worship. They are use ...
in the crossing. The majority of construction was under the direction of
Giovanni di Agostino Giovanni di Agostino, or Giovanni D'Agostino (c. 1310–c. 1370) was an Italian gothic art sculpting, sculptor in Siena. Giovanni was the son of sculptor and architect Agostino da Siena (c. 1285 – c. 1347; also known as Agostino di Giova ...
, a well-known sculptor of the time. Construction was halted by the
Black Death The Black Death was a bubonic plague pandemic that occurred in Europe from 1346 to 1353. It was one of the list of epidemics, most fatal pandemics in human history; as many as people perished, perhaps 50% of Europe's 14th century population. ...
in 1348. Unfortunately, the halt in construction revealed the failures already present in the new structure, such as a shallow foundation and weak building materials. The project was abandoned officially in 1355, and the work never resumed. The outer walls, remains of this extension, can now be seen to the south of the Duomo, while the floors of the uncompleted nave now serve as a parking lot and museum. Though unfinished, the remains are a testament to Sienese power, ambition, and artistic achievement. One of the walls can be climbed by narrow stairs for a high view of the city. The bell tower is one of the only modern aspects dated before 1215, built between the nave and south transept.


Façade

Work on the west
façade A façade or facade (; ) is generally the front part or exterior of a building. It is a loanword from the French language, French (), which means "frontage" or "face". In architecture, the façade of a building is often the most important asp ...
began around 1284.Gillerman, D. M. (1999). "Cosmopolitanism and Campanilismo: Gothic and Romanesque in the Siena Duomo Facade." ''The Art Bulletin'', Vol. 81, No. 3, 437–455. Built using
polychrome Polychrome is the "practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." The term is used to refer to certain styles of architecture, pottery, or sculpture in multiple colors. When looking at artworks and ...
marble, the work was overseen by
Giovanni Pisano Giovanni Pisano () was an Italian sculptor, painter and architect, who worked in the cities of Pisa, Siena and Pistoia. He is best known for his sculpture which shows the influence of both the French Gothic and the Ancient Roman art. Henry Mo ...
whose work on the Duomo's façade and the pulpit was influenced by his father
Nicola Pisano Nicola Pisano (also called ''Niccolò Pisano'', ''Nicola de Apulia'' or ''Nicola Pisanus''; /1225 – ) was an Italian sculpture, sculptor whose work is noted for its classical Ancient Rome, Roman sculptural style. Pisano is sometimes considered ...
. Built in Tuscan Romanesque style it emphasizes a horizontal unity of the area around the portals at the expense of the vertical bay divisions. The three portals, surmounted by
lunettes A lunette (French ''lunette'', 'little moon') is a crescent- or half-moon–shaped or semi-circular architectural space or feature, variously filled with sculpture, painted, glazed, filled with recessed masonry, or void. A lunette may also be ...
, are based on Giovanni Pisano's original designs, as are much of the sculpture and orientation surrounding the entrances. The areas around and above the doors, as well as the columns between the portals, are richly decorated with acanthus scrolls, allegorical figures and biblical scenes. The figures above the portals, many of whom were Old Testament prophets, were carved exaggerated poses and features, to enable them to be seen from far away. Giovanni Pisano was able to oversee his work until about 1296 when he abruptly left Siena, reportedly over creative differences with the Opera del Duomo, the group that oversaw the construction and maintenance of the Siena cathedrals. Pisano's work on the lower façade was continued under the direction of Camaino di Crescentino, but a number of changes were made to the original plan. These included raising the façade due to the raising of the
nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...
of the church and the installation of a larger
rose window Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in Gothic cathedrals and churches. The windows are divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery. The term ''rose window'' wa ...
based on designs by
Duccio di Buoninsegna Duccio di Buoninsegna ( , ; – ), commonly known as just Duccio, was an Italian painter active in Siena, Tuscany, in the late 13th and early 14th century. He was hired throughout his life to complete many important works in government and religi ...
and commissioned by the city of Siena. Work on the west façade came to an abrupt end in 1317 when the Opera del Duomo redirected all efforts to the east façade. There is debate as to when work on the upper façade was completed. Most scholars agree that it was finished sometime between 1360 and 1370, though when it began again is not known. The work continued to use Pisano's plans for the façade with some adaptations under the direction of Giovanni di Cecco. Di Cecco preferred more elaborate designs, most likely inspired by the
Orvieto Cathedral Orvieto Cathedral () is a large 14th-century Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and situated in the town of Orvieto in Umbria, central Italy. Since 1986, the cathedral in Orvieto has been the episcopal seat ...
. The façade needed to be much higher than foreseen as the nave had, once again, been raised. The changes were probably needed to accommodate the raised nave and di Cecco's more elaborate design scheme, heavily influenced by
French Gothic French Gothic architecture is an architectural style which emerged in France in 1140, and was dominant until the mid-16th century. The most notable examples are the great Gothic cathedrals of France, including Notre-Dame Cathedral, Reims Cathed ...
architecture, which caused the apparent division of the upper portion of the cathedral. Most noticeably the
pinnacle A pinnacle is an architectural element originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire. It was main ...
s of the upper portion do not continue from the columns flanking the central portal as they normally would in such cathedrals. Instead, they are substantially offset, resulting in a vertical discontinuity which is uncommon in cathedrals of the time as it can lead to structural weakness. To adjust for this imbalance, the towers on each side of the cathedral were opened by adding windows, reducing the weight they needed to support. The upper portion also features heavy Gothic decoration, a marked contrast to the simple geometric designed common to Tuscan Romanesque architecture. While most of the sculpture decorating the lower level of the lavish façade was sculpted by Giovanni Pisano and assistants depicting prophets, philosophers and apostles, the more Gothic statuary adorning the upper portion—including the half-length statues of the patriarchs in the niches around the rose window—are works of later, unattributed, sculptors. Almost all the statuary adorning the cathedral today are copies. The originals are kept in the Crypt of the Statues in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. Three large
mosaic A mosaic () is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/Mortar (masonry), mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and ...
s on the gables of the façade were made in
Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...
in 1878. The large central mosaic, the ''Coronation of the Virgin,'' is the work of
Luigi Mussini Luigi Mussini (19 December 1813 – 18 June 1888) was an Italian painter, linked especially to the Purismo movement and to the Nazarenes. Life Mussini was born in Berlin, son of the composer Natale Mussini, ''Kapellmeister'' at the Prussi ...
. The smaller mosaics on each side, ''Nativity of Jesus'' and ''Presentation of Mary in the Temple,'' were made by Alessandro Franchi. The bronze central door is a recent addition to the cathedral, replacing the original wooden one. The large door, known as the ''Porta della Riconoscenza,'' was commissioned in 1946 near the end of the German occupation of Siena. Sculpted by Vico Consorti and cast by Enrico Manfrini, the scenes on the door represent the Glorification of the Virgin, Siena's patron saint. On the left corner pier of the façade is a 14th-century inscription marking the grave of Giovanni Pisano. Next to the façade stands a column with a statue of the ''Contrade Lupa,'' a wolf breast-feeding
Romulus and Remus In Roman mythology, Romulus and (, ) are twins in mythology, twin brothers whose story tells of the events that led to the Founding of Rome, founding of the History of Rome, city of Rome and the Roman Kingdom by Romulus, following his frat ...
. According to local legend
Senius and Aschius Senius and Aschius are the two legendary founders of Siena, Italy. They were brothers, sons of Remus, and thus Romulus was their uncle. Traditions developed in Siena, which can not be documented prior to the 16th century hold that after Romulus ...
, sons of Remus and founders of Siena, left Rome with the statue, stolen from the Temple of Apollo in Rome.


Interior

In the interior the pictorial effect of the black and white marble stripes on the walls and columns strikes the eye. Black and white are the colours of the civic
coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...
of Siena. The capitals of the columns in the west bays of the nave are sculpted with
allegorical As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory throughou ...
busts and animals. The horizontal molding around the nave and the presbytery contains 172 plaster busts of
pope The pope is the bishop of Rome and the Head of the Church#Catholic Church, visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the po ...
s dating from the 15th and 16th centuries starting with St. Peter and ending with
Lucius III Pope Lucius III ( – 25 November 1185), born Ubaldo Allucingoli, reigned as head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1 September 1181 to his death in 1185. Born to an aristocratic family in Lucca, prior to being elected p ...
. The
spandrels A spandrel is a roughly triangular space, usually found in pairs, between the top of an arch and a rectangular frame, between the tops of two adjacent arches, or one of the four spaces between a circle within a square. They are frequently fil ...
of the round arches below this
cornice In architecture, a cornice (from the Italian ''cornice'' meaning "ledge") is generally any horizontal decorative Moulding (decorative), moulding that crowns a building or furniture element—for example, the cornice over a door or window, ar ...
exhibit the busts of 36 emperors. The vaulted roof is decorated in blue with golden stars, replacing
fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...
s on the ceiling, while the formerets (half ribs) and the
tierceron In Gothic architecture, a lierne is a tertiary rib connecting one rib to another, as opposed to connecting to a springer, or to the central boss. The resulting construction is called a lierne vault or stellar vault (named after the star shape ge ...
s (secondary ribs) are adorned with richly elaborated motifs. The stained-glass round window in the choir was made in 1288 to the designs of
Duccio Duccio di Buoninsegna ( , ; – ), commonly known as just Duccio, was an Italian painter active in Siena, Tuscany, in the late 13th and early 14th century. He was hired throughout his life to complete many important works in government and religi ...
.Divided into registers, the window depicts the ''Assumption of the Virgin''. It is one of the earliest remaining examples of Italian stained glass. in 1308–1311 Duccio created a magnificent double sided altarpiece, the ''Maestá'', which illustrated the Madonna Enthroned. Situated directly beneath the ''Assumption of Mary'' stained glass, these two works presented a unified visual theme that emphasized the Virgin Mary, to whom the Cathedral is dedicated. The hexagonal dome is topped with
Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, ; ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 1598 – 28 November 1680) was an Italian sculptor and architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prominently the leading sculptor ...
's gilded
lantern A lantern is a source of lighting, often portable. It typically features a protective enclosure for the light sourcehistorically usually a candle, a oil lamp, wick in oil, or a thermoluminescence, thermoluminescent Gas mantle, mesh, and often a ...
, like a golden sun. The ''
trompe-l'œil ; ; ) is an artistic term for the highly realistic optical illusion of three-dimensional space and objects on a Two-dimensional space, two-dimensional surface. , which is most often associated with painting, tricks the viewer into perceiving p ...
'' coffers were painted in blue with golden stars in the late 15th century. The colonnade in the
drum The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a ...
is adorned with images and statues of 42
patriarch The highest-ranking bishops in Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Roman Catholic Church (above major archbishop and primate), the Hussite Church, Church of the East, and some Independent Catholic Churches are termed patriarchs (and ...
s and prophets, painted in 1481 by Guidoccio Cozzarelli and
Benvenuto di Giovanni Benvenuto di Giovanni, also known as Benvenuto di Giovanni di Meo del Guasta (13 September 1436 – c. 1518) was an Italian painter and artist known for his choral miniatures, pavement designs, and frescoes. Working chiefly in Siena, he was first ...
. The eight
stucco Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and ...
statues in the spandrels beneath the dome were sculpted in 1490 by Ventura di Giuliano and Bastiano di Francesco. Originally they were
polychrome Polychrome is the "practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." The term is used to refer to certain styles of architecture, pottery, or sculpture in multiple colors. When looking at artworks and ...
d, but later, in 1704, gilded. Next to the first two pillars, there are two fonts, carved by
Antonio Federighi Antonio Federighi (circa 1420 – 1490) was an Italian People, Italian architect and sculptor of the Renaissance period. He was born and active mainly in Siena, Italy. He began as a sculptor for the Duomo of Siena, and worked there alongside Jaco ...
in 1462–1463. His basin for the Blessing of Holy Water was later transferred to the chapel of San Giovanni. The marble high altar of the presbytery was built in 1532 by
Baldassarre Peruzzi Baldassare Tommaso Peruzzi (7 March 1481 – 6 January 1536) was an Italian architect and painter, born in a small town near Siena (in Ancaiano, ''frazione'' of Sovicille) and died in Rome. He worked for many years with Bramante, Raphael, and lat ...
. The enormous bronze ciborium is the work of
Vecchietta Lorenzo di Pietro (1410 – June 6, 1480), known as Vecchietta, was an Italian Sienese School painter, sculptor, goldsmith, and architect of the Renaissance. He is among the artists profiled in Vasari's '' Le Vite delle più eccellenti pittori, ...
(1467–1472, originally commissioned for the church of the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala, across the square, and brought to the cathedral in 1506). At the sides of the high altar, the uppermost angels are masterpieces by
Francesco di Giorgio Martini Francesco di Giorgio Martini (1439–1501) was an Italian architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, and writer. As a painter, he belonged to the Sienese School. He was considered a visionary architectural theorist—in Nikolaus Pevsner's terms ...
(1439–1502). Against the pillars of the presbytery, there are eight
candelabra A candelabrum (plural candelabra but also used as the singular form) is a candle holder with multiple arms. "Candelabra" can be used to describe a variety of candle holders including chandeliers. However, candelabra can also be distinguished as b ...
s in the form of angels by
Domenico Beccafumi Domenico di Pace Beccafumi (1486May 18, 1551) was an Italian Renaissance-Mannerist painter active predominantly in Siena. He is considered one of the last undiluted representatives of the Sienese school of painting. Biography Domenico was born ...
(1548–1550), He also painted the frescos, representing Saints and Paradise, on the walls in the apse. These were partially repainted in 1912. Behind the main altar is a very large painting ''Assumption of the Virgin'' by
Bartolomeo Cesi Bartolomeo Cesi (; 16 August 1556 – 11 July 1629) was an Italian painter and draftsman of the Bolognese School.Andrea Bayer. "Cesi, Bartolomeo" Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 7 November 2020 He made e ...
in 1594. The presbytery keeps also the beautiful wooden choir stalls, made between 1363–1397 and extended in the 16th century. Originally there were more than ninety choir stalls, arranged in double rows. The remaining 36 stalls are each crowned by the bust of a saint in a pointed niche. Their backs are decorated with carved panels, the work of Fra’ Giovanni da Verona in 1503.


Pulpit

The pulpit was commissioned by Bishop Federico Visconti and sculpted in
Carrara marble Carrara marble, or Luna marble (''marmor lunense'') to the Romans, is a type of white or blue-grey marble popular for use in sculpture and building decor. It has been quarried since Roman times in the mountains just outside the city of Carrara ...
between the end of 1265 and November 1268 by
Nicola Pisano Nicola Pisano (also called ''Niccolò Pisano'', ''Nicola de Apulia'' or ''Nicola Pisanus''; /1225 – ) was an Italian sculpture, sculptor whose work is noted for its classical Ancient Rome, Roman sculptural style. Pisano is sometimes considered ...
and several other artists. This pulpit expresses the northern Gothic style adopted by Pisano, while still showing his classical influences. The whole message of the pulpit is concerned with the
doctrine Doctrine (from , meaning 'teaching, instruction') is a codification (law), codification of beliefs or a body of teacher, teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the essence of teachings in a given branch of knowledge or in a ...
of
Salvation Salvation (from Latin: ''salvatio'', from ''salva'', 'safe, saved') is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, ''salvation'' generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its c ...
and the
Last Judgment The Last Judgment is a concept found across the Abrahamic religions and the '' Frashokereti'' of Zoroastrianism. Christianity considers the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to entail the final judgment by God of all people who have ever lived, res ...
. In the top level, seven
relief Relief is a sculpture, sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term ''wikt:relief, relief'' is from the Latin verb , to raise (). To create a sculpture in relief is to give ...
s narrate the Life of Christ. The many figures in each scene with their
chiaroscuro In art, chiaroscuro ( , ; ) is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists and art historians for the use of contrasts of light to ach ...
effect, show a richness of surface, motion, and narrative. On the middle-level statuettes of the Evangelists and Prophets announce the salvation of mankind. The pulpit itself is the earliest remaining work in the cathedral. The staircase dates from 1543 and was built by
Bartolomeo Neroni Bartolomeo Neroni, also known as Il Riccio or Riccio Sanese (c.1505–1571) was an Italian painter, sculptor, architect and engineer of the Sienese School. He was born and died in Siena. Biography Neroni was influenced by Domenico Beccafumi ...
. At the same time, the pulpit was moved from the choir to its present location.


The marble floor

The inlaid marble
mosaic A mosaic () is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/Mortar (masonry), mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and ...
floor is one of the most ornate of its kind in Italy, covering the whole floor of the cathedral. Visitors have been amazed by the stunning effect of these floors for centuries. Indeed,
Giorgio Vasari Giorgio Vasari (30 July 1511 – 27 June 1574) was an Italian Renaissance painter, architect, art historian, and biographer who is best known for his work ''Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects'', considered the ideol ...
, an Italian Renaissance painter and architect, claimed the floor was “''the most beautiful … great and magnificent pavement ever made.''” This undertaking went on from the 14th to the 16th centuries, and about forty artists made their contribution, the majority of whom were Sienese. The floor consists of 56 panels in different sizes. Most have a rectangular shape, but the later ones in the transept are
hexagon In geometry, a hexagon (from Greek , , meaning "six", and , , meaning "corner, angle") is a six-sided polygon. The total of the internal angles of any simple (non-self-intersecting) hexagon is 720°. Regular hexagon A regular hexagon is de ...
s or
rhombus In plane Euclidean geometry, a rhombus (: rhombi or rhombuses) is a quadrilateral whose four sides all have the same length. Another name is equilateral quadrilateral, since equilateral means that all of its sides are equal in length. The rhom ...
es. They represent the
sibyl The sibyls were prophetesses or oracles in Ancient Greece. The sibyls prophet, prophesied at holy sites. A sibyl at Delphi has been dated to as early as the eleventh century BC by Pausanias (geographer), PausaniasPausanias 10.12.1 when he desc ...
s, scenes from the
Old Testament The Old Testament (OT) is the first division of the Christian biblical canon, which is based primarily upon the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, a collection of ancient religious Hebrew and occasionally Aramaic writings by the Isr ...
,
allegories As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory throughou ...
,
virtues A virtue () is a trait of excellence, including traits that may be moral, social, or intellectual. The cultivation and refinement of virtue is held to be the "good of humanity" and thus is valued as an end purpose of life or a foundational pri ...
, and figures from the ancient world. Most are still in their original state. The earliest scenes were made by a graffito technique: drilling tiny holes and scratching lines in the marble and filling these with
bitumen Bitumen ( , ) is an immensely viscosity, viscous constituent of petroleum. Depending on its exact composition, it can be a sticky, black liquid or an apparently solid mass that behaves as a liquid over very large time scales. In American Engl ...
or mineral pitch. In a later stage black, white, green, red, and blue marble
intarsia Intarsia is a form of wood inlaying that is similar to marquetry. The practice dates from before the seventh century AD. The technique inserts sections of wood (at times with contrasting ivory or bone, or mother-of-pearl) within the solid wood ...
were used. This technique of marble inlay also evolved during the years, finally resulting in a vigorous contrast of light and dark, giving it an almost modern,
impressionistic Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by visible brush strokes, open Composition (visual arts), composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...
composition. The uncovered floor can only be seen for a period of six to ten weeks each year, generally including the month of September. The rest of the year, the pavements near the altar are covered, and only some near the entrance may be viewed. Giovanni paciarelli, schema del pavimento del duomo di siena, 1884.jpg, A lay-out of the floor of the cathedral Inside of Siena Cathedral (5771999020).jpg, ''The She-Wolf,'' 1360s original reconstructed by Leopoldo Maccari (1865) Pavimento di siena, ruota della fortuna.jpg, ''The Wheel of Fortune'' (1372/1864), nave Pavimento di siena, sibilla ellespontica.jpg,
Neroccio di Bartolomeo de' Landi Neroccio di Bartolomeo de' Landi (1447–1500) was an Italian painter and sculptor of the early-Renaissance or Quattrocento period in Siena. He was a student of Vecchietta, then he shared a studio with Francesco di Giorgio from 1468. He paint ...
, ''The Hellespontine Sibyl'' (late 15th ct.), aisle Pavimento di siena, strage degli innocenti (matteo di Giovanni) 01.jpg,
Matteo di Giovanni Matteo di Giovanni (c. 1430 – 1495) was an Italian Renaissance artist from the Sienese School. Biography Matteo di Giovanni di Bartolo was born in Borgo Sansepolcro around 1430. His family relocated to Siena and he is firmly associated with ...
, ''The Slaughter of the Innocents'' (1484–1485), left transept Pavimento di siena, esagono, sacrificio di elia (beccafumi).jpg,
Beccafumi Domenico di Pace Beccafumi (1486May 18, 1551) was an Italian Renaissance-Mannerist Painting, painter active predominantly in Siena. He is considered one of the last undiluted representatives of the Sienese school of painting. Biography Domenico ...
, ''Scene from the Lives of Elijah and Ahab'' (1519–1524), chancel Pavimento di siena, marcia del popolo ebraico verso la terra promessa e sacrificio di isacco (beccafumi).jpg, Detail from ''Abraham's Sacrifice'' by Beccafumi in the chancel Duomo di Siena, Sette età dell'uomo.jpg, ''The Seven Ages of Man'' (1457/1871), right transept Pavimento di siena, storie di assalonne (piero del minnella) 02.jpg, Pietro di Tommaso del Minella, ''The Death of Absalom'' (1447), right transept


Nave and aisles


Nave

The nave, or central part of the church, contains scenes from
classical antiquity Classical antiquity, also known as the classical era, classical period, classical age, or simply antiquity, is the period of cultural History of Europe, European history between the 8th century BC and the 5th century AD comprising the inter ...
, which is very unusual in a church from this time period. These additions were primarily included due to the influence of two Sienese popes,
Enea Silvio Piccolomini Pope Pius II (, ), born Enea Silvio Bartolomeo Piccolomini (; 18 October 1405 – 14 August 1464), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 August 1458 to his death in 1464. Aeneas Silvius was an author, diplomat, ...
and Francesco Tedeschini Piccolomini, who believed that classical authors and figures held knowledge that is applicable across faith traditions. At the entrance of the nave is a scene containing ''Hermes Trismegistus'', a popular figure of the fifteenth century who was seen as "the founder of human wisdom." Designed by Giovanni di Stefano in 1488, this panel welcomes visitors into the church and introduces the theme of knowledge that develops throughout the nave and side aisles. ''The She-Wolf Suckling Romulus and Remus'', or ''The She-Wolf of Siena'' was originally created in the 1360s but heavily restored by Leopoldo Maccari in 1865. It portrays a wolf in the center surrounded by eight smaller circles, each depicting the emblem of major Italian cities. ''Allegory of the Mount of Wisdom'' was designed by
Pinturicchio Pinturicchio, or Pintoricchio (, ; born Bernardino di Betto; 1454–1513), also known as Benetto di Biagio or Sordicchio, was an Italian Renaissance painter. He acquired his nickname (meaning "little painter") because of his small stature a ...
in 1505 and completed in 1506 by Paolo Mannuci. This complicated scene includes a feminine personification of Fortune who is leading a group of wise men up a rocky, dangerous path to great the female personification of Wisdom. The final panel in the nave is ''Wheel of Fortune'' (completed in 1372 and restored in 1864 by Leopoldo Maccari). The central image is of a wheel, where a king sits at the top and three male figures cling to the wheel. Surrounding the wheel are four figures depicting philosophers from the ancient world.


Side aisles

The side aisles along the nave are decorated with ten panels (five in each aisle) of the ''Sibyls''. Each panel contains a Sibyl that is an allegorical representation of the known world of the time, as identified by an accompanying inscription: ''Persian Sibyl'', ''Hellespontine Sibyl'', ''Eritrean Sibyl'', ''Phrygian Sibyl'', ''Samian Sibyl'', ''Delphic Sibyl'', ''Libyan Sibyl'', ''Cimmerian Sibyl'', ''Cumaen Sibyl'', and ''Tiburtine Sibyl''. The effect of these allegorical figures represent the universality of the Christian message. Each full-length Sibyl is contrasted against a black and red background, and illustrated in a variety of poses with flowing robes.


Transepts and chancel

The scenes in the
transept A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform ("cross-shaped") cruciform plan, churches, in particular within the Romanesque architecture, Romanesque a ...
s and
chancel In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the Choir (architecture), choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may termi ...
represent biblical stories and mark the thematic transition from the scenes in the naves and aisles, which depicted figures from
classical antiquity Classical antiquity, also known as the classical era, classical period, classical age, or simply antiquity, is the period of cultural History of Europe, European history between the 8th century BC and the 5th century AD comprising the inter ...
. The biblical scenes all focus on the theme of humanity’s
salvation Salvation (from Latin: ''salvatio'', from ''salva'', 'safe, saved') is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, ''salvation'' generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its c ...
. In the Siena Cathedral, the chancel encompasses the crossing, the area below the dome, extending to the altar.


Left transept

The left transept contains three large panels: ''The Expulsion of Herod'', ''The Slaughter of the Innocents'', and ''The Story of Judith''. ''The Expulsion of Herod'' by
Benvenuto di Giovanni Benvenuto di Giovanni, also known as Benvenuto di Giovanni di Meo del Guasta (13 September 1436 – c. 1518) was an Italian painter and artist known for his choral miniatures, pavement designs, and frescoes. Working chiefly in Siena, he was first ...
(1484–1485) in an incredibly intricate scene representing God’s revenge against Herod, the persecutor of John the Baptist. ''The Slaughter of the Innocents'' by
Matteo di Giovanni Matteo di Giovanni (c. 1430 – 1495) was an Italian Renaissance artist from the Sienese School. Biography Matteo di Giovanni di Bartolo was born in Borgo Sansepolcro around 1430. His family relocated to Siena and he is firmly associated with ...
is one of the most awe-inspiring panels of the cathedral, and has evoked emotional responses from visitors since its creation in 1481. The panel articulates the desperation of the mothers who are trying to save their babies from the slaughter of malicious guards. ''The Story of Judith'' by
Francesco di Giorgio Martini Francesco di Giorgio Martini (1439–1501) was an Italian architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, and writer. As a painter, he belonged to the Sienese School. He was considered a visionary architectural theorist—in Nikolaus Pevsner's terms ...
(1473), located near the pulpit, depicts the Old Testament narrative of
Judith The Book of Judith is a deuterocanonical book included in the Septuagint and the Catholic Church, Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Christian Old Testament of the Bible but Development of the Hebrew Bible canon, excluded from the ...
beheading
Holofernes Holofernes (; ) was an invading Assyrian general in the Book of Judith, who was beheaded by Judith, who entered his camp and decapitated him while he was intoxicated. Etymology The name 'Holofernes' is derived from the Old Persian name , meanin ...
, an enemy general.


Chancel

The majority of the panels in the chancel are grouped together in a large hexagonal portion of the pavement and depict ''Scenes from the Lives of Elijah and Ahab''. Each of these scenes are either designed within a hexagonal panel or smaller rhombus-shaped panel. The upper half of these scenes (four of the seven hexagons and two of the six rhombuses) were completed from 1519–1524 by
Domenico Beccafumi Domenico di Pace Beccafumi (1486May 18, 1551) was an Italian Renaissance-Mannerist painter active predominantly in Siena. He is considered one of the last undiluted representatives of the Sienese school of painting. Biography Domenico was born ...
, who was the most renowned Sienese artist of his time. He worked on cartoons for the floor for thirty years (1518–1547) and made vast contributions to the cathedral’s pavement. The lower portion wasn’t completed until 1878 by Alessandro Franchi. Beccafumi’s eight-meter long frieze ''Moses Striking Water from the Rock'' was completed in 1525. The work marks a technical and stylistic shift from Beccafumi’s earlier work. Here, the artist used different tones within the same piece of marble to create figures heavily contrasted by light and shadow. The subsequent section, also by Beccafumi, portrays ''Scenes from the Life of Moses on Mount Sinai''. The large panel, completed from 1525–1529, is a continuation of the previous story and employs a similar technical and stylistic method. Rather than isolating each scene within a panel, the entire panel merges the scenes together in one combined section. Next are five panels arranged horizontally: ''Joshua Defeats the Five Kings of the Amorites'', ''David the Psalmist'' between ''David the Slingsman'' and ''Goliath Falling Backwards'', and ''Samson Chastising the Philistines''. The scenes portraying David are credited to Domenico di Niccolò dei Cori (1413–1423), the first known artist to work on the panels. His successor, Paolo di Martino, completed ''Joshua Defeats the Five Kings of the Amorites'' and ''Samson Chastising the Philistines'' between 1424 and 1426 which contain more details than the previous panels. The final panel in the chancel, located directly in front of the altar, is ''Abraham’s Sacrifice of Isaac''. Completed in 1547 by Beccafumi, the scene contains one large panel with the story, surrounded by smaller rectangular panels of related scenes. Bordering the main altar is a geometric pattern containing five circular panels which depict ''Mercy'' and ''The Four
Cardinal Virtues The cardinal virtues are four virtues of mind and character in classical philosophy. They are prudence, Justice (virtue), justice, Courage, fortitude, and Temperance (virtue), temperance. They form a Virtue ethics, virtue theory of ethics. The t ...
'' (Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, and Good Government)''.'' The panels date from 1406, as established by a payment made to Marchese d'Adamo and his fellow workers who executed the cartoons of Sienese painters.


Right transept

The right transept contains five sections of panels: ''The Seven Ages of Man'', ''Religion and the Theological Virtues'', ''The Story of Jephthah'', ''The Death of Absalom'', and ''Emperor Sigismund''. ''The Seven Ages of Man'' is a collection of six octagonal panels surrounding a central rectangular panel and woven together by a geometric rope-inspired pattern. They depict the stages of life a man goes through, from infancy to death. The majority of the original work by
Antonio Federighi Antonio Federighi (circa 1420 – 1490) was an Italian People, Italian architect and sculptor of the Renaissance period. He was born and active mainly in Siena, Italy. He began as a sculptor for the Duomo of Siena, and worked there alongside Jaco ...
in 1457 was reconstructed in 1871. ''Religion and the Theological Virtues'' is a set of panels, depicting an allegory of religion and three personifications of theological virtues (''Hope'', ''Faith'', and ''Charity''). The original works from 1780 were replaced a century later by designs by Alessandro Franchi. ''The Story of Jephthah'' is credited to
Francesco di Giorgio Martini Francesco di Giorgio Martini (1439–1501) was an Italian architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, and writer. As a painter, he belonged to the Sienese School. He was considered a visionary architectural theorist—in Nikolaus Pevsner's terms ...
, and notably contains sixty characters throughout the panel. The finer details of the narrative have been lost over time. ''The Death of Absalom'' by Pietro di Tommaso del Minella (1447) narrates a group of soldiers finding King David’s sin, Absalom, hanging dead from a tree. The figures are contrasted by a foreground of red marble, and a background of black marble. In 1434 the renowned painter
Domenico di Bartolo Domenico di Bartolo (birth name Domenico Ghezzi), born in Asciano, Siena, was a Sienese painter of the early Renaissance period. In the ''Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects'', Giorgio Vasari says that Domenico was ...
completed the panel ''Emperor Sigismund Enthroned''. The Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund Sigismund (variants: Sigmund, Siegmund) is a German proper name, meaning "protection through victory", from Old High German ''sigu'' "victory" + ''munt'' "hand, protection". Tacitus latinises it ''Segimundus''. There appears to be an older form of ...
was popular in Siena, because he resided there for ten months on his way to Rome for his coronation.Today, the details are incredibly faded.


Works of art

The cathedral's valuable pieces of art including '' The Feast of Herod'' by
Donatello Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), known mononymously as Donatello (; ), was an Italian Renaissance sculpture, Italian sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sc ...
, and works by
Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, ; ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 1598 – 28 November 1680) was an Italian sculptor and architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prominently the leading sculptor ...
and the young
Michelangelo Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6March 147518February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspir ...
make it an extraordinary museum of Italian sculpture. The '' Annunciation between St. Ansanus and St. Margaret'', a masterwork of
Gothic painting Gothic art was a style of medieval art that developed in Northern France out of Romanesque art in the 12th century, led by the concurrent development of Gothic architecture. It spread to all of Western Europe, and much of Northern, Southern and ...
by
Simone Martini Simone Martini ( – July 1344) was an Italian painter born in Siena. He was a major figure in the development of early Italian painting and greatly influenced the development of the International Gothic style. It is thought that Martini was a p ...
and
Lippo Memmi Lippo Memmi (c. 1291 – 1356) was an Italian painter from Siena. He was the foremost follower of Simone Martini, who was his brother-in-law. Together with Martini, in 1333 he painted what is regarded as one of the masterworks of the Intern ...
, decorated a side altar of the church until 1799, when it was moved to the
Uffizi The Uffizi Gallery ( ; , ) is a prominent art museum adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria in the Historic Centre of Florence in the region of Tuscany, Italy. One of the most important Italian museums and the most visited, it is also one of th ...
of Florence. The funeral monument for cardinal Riccardo Petroni (1250–1314, a jurisconsult of
Pope Boniface VIII Pope Boniface VIII (; born Benedetto Caetani; – 11 October 1303) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 December 1294 until his death in 1303. The Caetani, Caetani family was of baronial origin with connections t ...
) was erected between 1317 and 1318 by the Sienese sculptor
Tino di Camaino 300px, Tomb of Antonio d'Orso, in Florence.html" ;"title="Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence">Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence. Tino di Camaino (c. 1280 – c. 1337) was an Italian sculptor. Biography Born in Siena, the son of architect Camain ...
. He had succeeded his father as the master-builder of the Siena cathedral. The marble monument in the left transept is the earliest example of 14th-century funeral architecture. It is composed of a richly decorated
sarcophagus A sarcophagus (: sarcophagi or sarcophaguses) is a coffin, most commonly carved in stone, and usually displayed above ground, though it may also be buried. The word ''sarcophagus'' comes from the Greek language, Greek wikt:σάρξ, σάρξ ...
, held aloft on the shoulders of four statues. Above the sarcophagus, two angels draw apart a curtain, revealing the cardinal lying on his deathbed, accompanied by two guardian angels. The monument is crowned by a spired
tabernacle According to the Hebrew Bible, the tabernacle (), also known as the Tent of the Congregation (, also Tent of Meeting), was the portable earthly dwelling of God used by the Israelites from the Exodus until the conquest of Canaan. Moses was instru ...
with statues of the Madonna and Child, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. In the pavement, in front of this monument, lies the bronze tombstone of Bishop Giovanni di Bartolomeo Pecci, bishop of Grosseto, made by
Donatello Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), known mononymously as Donatello (; ), was an Italian Renaissance sculpture, Italian sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sc ...
in 1427. It shows the dead prelate laid out in a concave bier in highly illusionistic low relief. Looking at it obliquely from the end of the tomb, gives the impression of a three-dimensionality. It was originally located in front of the high altar and moved to the present location in 1506. The wall tomb of bishop Tommaso Piccolomini del Testa is set above the small door leading to the bell tower. It is the work of the Sienese painter and sculptor
Neroccio di Bartolomeo de' Landi Neroccio di Bartolomeo de' Landi (1447–1500) was an Italian painter and sculptor of the early-Renaissance or Quattrocento period in Siena. He was a student of Vecchietta, then he shared a studio with Francesco di Giorgio from 1468. He paint ...
in 1483. The Piccolomini Altarpiece, left of the entrance to the library, is the work of the Lombard sculptor
Andrea Bregno Andrea di Cristoforo Bregno (1418–1506) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor and architect of the Early Renaissance who worked in Rome from the 1460s and died just as the High Renaissance was getting under way. Early life He was born in Oste ...
in 1483. This altarpiece is remarkable because of the four sculptures in the lower niches, made by the young
Michelangelo Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6March 147518February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspir ...
between 1501 and 1504: Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Gregory (with the help of an assistant) and Saint Pius. On top of the altar is the ''Madonna and Child'', a sculpture (probably) by
Jacopo della Quercia Jacopo della Quercia (, ; 20 October 1438), also known as Jacopo di Pietro d'Agnolo di Guarnieri, was an Italian sculptor of the Early Renaissance, a contemporary of Brunelleschi, Ghiberti and Donatello. Biography Jacopo della Quercia takes hi ...
. Many of the Duomo's furnishings, reliquaries, and artwork, have been removed to the adjacent Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. This includes Duccio's ''Maestà'' altarpiece, some panels of which are scattered around the world or lost. Duccio's large stained glass window, original to the building, was removed out of precaution during WWII for fear of shattering from bombs or fire. A replica has been installed in the Duomo ever since. The glass depicts a typical Sienese religious subject- three panels of the Death, Assumption, and Coronation of Mary, flanked by the city's most important patron saints, Saint Ansanus; Saint Sabinus; Saint Crescentius; and Saint Victor, and in four corners are the Four Evangelists.


Chapel of Saint John the Baptist

The Chapel of Saint John the Baptist is situated in the left transept. At the back of this chapel, amidst the rich
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
decorations, is the bronze statue of St. John the Baptist by
Donatello Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), known mononymously as Donatello (; ), was an Italian Renaissance sculpture, Italian sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sc ...
(c. 1455). In the middle of the chapel is a 15th-century marble font. But most impressive in this chapel are the eight frescos by
Pinturicchio Pinturicchio, or Pintoricchio (, ; born Bernardino di Betto; 1454–1513), also known as Benetto di Biagio or Sordicchio, was an Italian Renaissance painter. He acquired his nickname (meaning "little painter") because of his small stature a ...
, which were commissioned by Alberto Aringhieri and painted between 1504 and 1505. Two of the frescos were repainted in the 17th century, while a third was completely replaced in 1868. The original paintings in the chapel are: ''Nativity of John the Baptist'', ''John the Baptist in the Desert'' and ''John the Baptist Preaching''. He also painted two portraits: ''Aringhieri with the Cloak of the Order of the Knights of Malta'' and ''Kneeling Knight in Armour''. These two portraits show us a very detailed background.


The Chigi Chapel

The small Chigi Chapel (or Cappella della Madonna del Voto) is situated in the right transept. It is the last, most luxurious sculptural addition to the Duomo, and was commissioned in 1659 by the Sienese Chigi pope
Alexander VII Pope Alexander VII (; 13 February 159922 May 1667), born Fabio Chigi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 7 April 1655 to his death, in May 1667. He began his career as a vice-papal legate, and he held various di ...
. This circular chapel with a gilded dome was built by the German architect
Johann Paul Schor Johann Paul Schor (1615 – 1674), known in Rome as Giovanni Paolo Tedesco ( ''Tedesco'' literally means ''German'' in Italian), was an Austrian artist. He was the preeminent designer of decorative arts in Baroque Rome, providing drawings for sta ...
to the
baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
designs of
Gian Lorenzo Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, ; ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 1598 – 28 November 1680) was an Italians, Italian sculptor and Italian architect, architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prom ...
, replacing a 15th-century chapel. At the back of the chapel is the ''Madonna del Voto'' (by a follower of Guido da Siena, 13th century), that even today is much venerated and receives each year the homages of the contrade. On the eve of the
battle of Montaperti The Battle of Montaperti was fought on 4 September 1260 between Republic of Florence, Florence and Republic of Siena, Siena in Tuscany as part of the conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. The Florentines were routed. It was the blood ...
(4 September 1260) against Florence, the city of Siena had dedicated itself to the Madonna. The victory of the Sienese, against all odds, over the much more numerous Florentines was ascribed to her miraculous protection. Two of the four marble sculptures in the niches, are by Bernini himself: ''Saint Jerome'' and ''Mary Magdalene''. The other two are ''Saint Bernardine'' ( Antonio Raggi) and ''Saint Catherine of Siena'' (
Ercole Ferrata Ercole Ferrata (1610 – 10 July 1686) was an Italian sculptor of the Roman Baroque. Biography A native of Pellio Inferiore, near Como, Ferrata initially apprenticed with Alessandro Algardi, and became one of his prime assistants. When hi ...
). The eight marble columns are originally from the Lateran Palace in Rome. The bronze gate at the entrance is by
Giovanni Artusi Giovanni Maria Artusi (c. 154018 August 1613) was an Italian music theory, music theorist, composer, and writer. Artusi fiercely condemned the new musical innovations that defined the early Baroque music, Baroque style developing around 1600 in h ...
.


Piccolomini Library

The library was commissioned by cardinal Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini (then archbishop of Siena and the future pope Pius III) in 1492. It was intended as a repository of the book collection of his uncle cardinal Enea Silvio Piccolomini, eventually Pope
Pius II Pope Pius II (, ), born Enea Silvio Bartolomeo Piccolomini (; 18 October 1405 – 14 August 1464), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 August 1458 to his death in 1464. Aeneas Silvius was an author, diplomat, ...
. This collection included works by his uncle, books in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, and many rare parchments. Today, many of the original collection has been lost, but the library still houses many exquisite illuminated Psalters executed by
Liberale da Verona Liberale da Verona (1441–1526) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period, active mainly in Verona. Biography Early ages He was born around 1445 in Verona, where he was registered in 1455 at the age of ten. His paternal family name ...
and Girolamo da Cremona between 1466 and 1478 and later carried on by other Sienese illuminators’. Adjoined to the left-side of the cathedral, the entrance is set apart by a large marble wall monument, with two grand arches. This marble entrance was constructed by Lorenzo di Mariano in 1497. It contains a round relief of ''St. John the Evangelist'' (probably) by Giovanni di Stefano and, below the altar, a polychrome ''Pietà'' by the sculptor Alberto di Betto da Assisi in 1421. Above this marble monument is a fresco of the ''Papal Coronation of Pius III'' by
Pinturicchio Pinturicchio, or Pintoricchio (, ; born Bernardino di Betto; 1454–1513), also known as Benetto di Biagio or Sordicchio, was an Italian Renaissance painter. He acquired his nickname (meaning "little painter") because of his small stature a ...
in 1504. Entering the room, there is an unmistakable stylistic shift within the library, compared to the rest of the cathedral; whereas the cathedral is more somber and dark, the library is filled with light and bright colors. Much of the color comes from the many
fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...
es that cover the entirety of the walls and ceilings. The walls are covered with depictions of the ten most important scenes from the life of Pope Pius II, to whom the library is dedicated.
Pinturicchio Pinturicchio, or Pintoricchio (, ; born Bernardino di Betto; 1454–1513), also known as Benetto di Biagio or Sordicchio, was an Italian Renaissance painter. He acquired his nickname (meaning "little painter") because of his small stature a ...
painted this cycle of frescos around the library between 1502 and 1507, representing
Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), now generally known in English as Raphael ( , ), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. List of paintings by Raphael, His work is admired for its cl ...
and himself in several of them. There is some controversy whether these frescos were based, at least partially, on designs by Raphael. This masterpiece is full of striking detail and vivacious colours. Each scene is explained in Latin by the text below, and demonstrate the remarkable events from the secular and religious career of Enea Silvio Piccolomini, first as a high prelate, then bishop, a cardinal and ultimately as pope Pius II: # Enea Silvio Piccolomini (ESP) leaves for the
Council of Basel The Council of Florence is the seventeenth ecumenical council recognized by the Catholic Church, held between 1431 and 1445. It was convened in territories under the Holy Roman Empire. Italy became a venue of a Catholic ecumenical council aft ...
. The storm scene in the background is a first in western art. # ESP, ambassador at the Scottish Court # ESP crowned court poet by emperor Frederick III # ESP makes an act of submission to
Pope Eugene IV Pope Eugene IV (; ; 1383 – 23 February 1447), born Gabriele Condulmer, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 11 March 1431 to his death, in February 1447. Condulmer was a Republic of Venice, Venetian, and a nephew ...
# ESP, bishop of Siena, presents emperor Frederick III with his bride-to-be Eleanora of Portugal at the Porta Camollia in Siena. # ESP receives the cardinal's hat in 1456 # ESP, enters the Lateran as pontiff in 1458 # Pius II convokes a Diet of Princes at
Mantua Mantua ( ; ; Lombard language, Lombard and ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Italian region of Lombardy, and capital of the Province of Mantua, eponymous province. In 2016, Mantua was designated as the "Italian Capital of Culture". In 2 ...
to proclaim a new crusade in 1459 # Pius II canonizes
Saint Catherine of Siena Caterina di Jacopo di Benincasa (25 March 1347 – 29 April 1380), known as Catherine of Siena, was an Italian mystic and pious laywoman who engaged in papal and Italian politics through extensive letter-writing and advocacy. Canonized in 1461, ...
in 1461 # Pius II arrives in
Ancona Ancona (, also ; ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region of central Italy, with a population of around 101,997 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona, homonymous province and of the region. The city is located northeast of Ro ...
to launch the crusade. The ceiling is decorated in four panels, which each contain mythological subjects and are boarded by colorful, geometric patterns. They were executed between 1502 and 1503 by
Pinturicchio Pinturicchio, or Pintoricchio (, ; born Bernardino di Betto; 1454–1513), also known as Benetto di Biagio or Sordicchio, was an Italian Renaissance painter. He acquired his nickname (meaning "little painter") because of his small stature a ...
and his assistants. The floor, made of blue ceramics with crescent moons, adds another element of color to the room. In the center of the room is a marble statue of three smiling women with entwined arms, who are personifications of the three graces. Originally a Greek painting, the famous statue ''Three Graces'' is a Roman copy that was bought specifically to be placed in the library. Siena Cathedral, Piccolomini Library portal by Lorenzo di Mariano (1497).jpg, Piccolomini Library portal by Lorenzo di Mariano (1497). Above the ''Papal Coronation of Pius III'' by
Pinturicchio Pinturicchio, or Pintoricchio (, ; born Bernardino di Betto; 1454–1513), also known as Benetto di Biagio or Sordicchio, was an Italian Renaissance painter. He acquired his nickname (meaning "little painter") because of his small stature a ...
in 1504. Cappella Piccolomini sposa Eleonora e cardinale Pinturicchio Siena.jpg, Frescos of Enea Silvio Piccolomini presenting Eleanora of Portugal to the emperor Frederick III and receiving the cardinal's hat in 1456 Liberale da verona, iniziale E con eolo, in graduale, post 1468 (si, libreria piccolomini) 01.jpg, One of the many
Illuminated manuscripts An illuminated manuscript is a formally prepared manuscript, document where the text is decorated with flourishes such as marginalia, borders and Miniature (illuminated manuscript), miniature illustrations. Often used in the Roman Catholic Churc ...
displayed in the library


Baptistry

Unlike Florence or Pisa, Siena did not build a separate baptistry. The
baptistry In Christian architecture the baptistery or baptistry (Old French ''baptisterie''; -4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ... ''baptisterie''; Latin ''baptist ...
is located underneath the eastern bays of the choir of the Duomo. The construction of the interior was largely performed under Camaino di Crescentino and was completed about 1325.Carli, Enzo. ''Siena Cathedral and the Cathedral Museum.'' Scala 1999, p. ?. The main attraction is the hexagonal baptismal font, containing sculptures and refliefs by
Donatello Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), known mononymously as Donatello (; ), was an Italian Renaissance sculpture, Italian sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sc ...
,
Jacopo della Quercia Jacopo della Quercia (, ; 20 October 1438), also known as Jacopo di Pietro d'Agnolo di Guarnieri, was an Italian sculptor of the Early Renaissance, a contemporary of Brunelleschi, Ghiberti and Donatello. Biography Jacopo della Quercia takes hi ...
and
Lorenzo Ghiberti Lorenzo Ghiberti (, , ; 1378 – 1 December 1455), born Lorenzo di Bartolo, was an Italian Renaissance sculptor from Florence, a key figure in the Early Renaissance, best known as the creator of two sets of bronze doors of the Florence Baptister ...
.


Crypt

Located under the Duomo near the baptistry, and rediscovered in 1999 during an excavation, is the cathedral's crypt. Although scholars prior to 1999 believed there was a crypt, as recorded in medieval sources, they did know know to what extent this room was preserved. There is evidence that the room was filled with dirt and other material waste in the beginning of the 15th century, with more deposits added in the first half of the 18th century. The room was decorated towards the end of the 13th century by a series of frescos, which survive today in vivid color. These frescos, covering each wall as well as the two pillars supporting the room, depict forty-five scenes from the Old and New Testaments. These scenes are bordered by geometric patterns and other embellishments.


See also

*
History of medieval Arabic and Western European domes The early domes of the Middle Ages, particularly in those areas recently under Byzantine Empire, Byzantine control, were an extension of earlier Roman architecture. The domed church architecture of Italy from the sixth to the eighth centuries fol ...
* List of Gothic Cathedrals in Europe *
Roman Catholic Marian churches Catholic Marian churches are religious buildings dedicated to the veneration of the Veneration of Mary in the Catholic Church, Blessed Virgin Mary. These churches were built throughout the history of the Catholic Church, and today they can be foun ...


Gallery

File:Duomo Siena Italia.jpg, Siena Cathedral File:Siena-Duomo.jpg, Façade, bell tower, and column with
Romulus and Remus In Roman mythology, Romulus and (, ) are twins in mythology, twin brothers whose story tells of the events that led to the Founding of Rome, founding of the History of Rome, city of Rome and the Roman Kingdom by Romulus, following his frat ...
File:Facade window - Duomo - Siena 2016.jpg, Oculus and vivid figures of the west facade File:Last supper - Stained glass window - Duomo - Siena 2016.jpg, Western stained-glass window depicting the Last Supper File:Duccio rosetón 01.JPG, ''The Rose Window'' by
Duccio Duccio di Buoninsegna ( , ; – ), commonly known as just Duccio, was an Italian painter active in Siena, Tuscany, in the late 13th and early 14th century. He was hired throughout his life to complete many important works in government and religi ...
, 1287 (original, Cathedral Museum) Altar, Duomo, Siena, Italy.jpg, High altar by
Baldassare Peruzzi Baldassare Tommaso Peruzzi (7 March 1481 – 6 January 1536) was an Italian architect and painter, born in a small town near Siena (in Ancaiano, ''frazione'' of Sovicille) and died in Rome. He worked for many years with Bramante, Raphael, and l ...
(1532) and suspended Ciborium by
Vecchietta Lorenzo di Pietro (1410 – June 6, 1480), known as Vecchietta, was an Italian Sienese School painter, sculptor, goldsmith, and architect of the Renaissance. He is among the artists profiled in Vasari's '' Le Vite delle più eccellenti pittori, ...
Domenico beccafumi, angeli cerofori, 1547-51, G 03.JPG, Bronze candlestick angel by
Domenico Beccafumi Domenico di Pace Beccafumi (1486May 18, 1551) was an Italian Renaissance-Mannerist painter active predominantly in Siena. He is considered one of the last undiluted representatives of the Sienese school of painting. Biography Domenico was born ...
, 1547-51 Donatello, lastra tombale di giovanni pecci, 1426 circa, siena.jpg,
Donatello Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), known mononymously as Donatello (; ), was an Italian Renaissance sculpture, Italian sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sc ...
, Tomb slab of Giovanni Pecci, c. 1426 Dom Siena, Piccolomini Altar.jpg, Piccolomini Altar by
Andrea Bregno Andrea di Cristoforo Bregno (1418–1506) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor and architect of the Early Renaissance who worked in Rome from the 1460s and died just as the High Renaissance was getting under way. Early life He was born in Oste ...
(1481–1485), with figures by
Michelangelo Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6March 147518February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspir ...
(1504) File:Cappella Piccolomini sposa Eleonora e cardinale Pinturicchio Siena.jpg, Piccolomini Library, frescos (scenes 5 and 6) File:Gruppo delle tre grazie piccolomini, III secolo da un orig. ellenistico 02.JPG, Piccolomini Library, The Three Graces, 3rd ct. Roman copy of a hellenistic original FIle:Antonio federighi, fonte battesimale, 1465-68, 01.JPG, Baptistry, Baptismal Font by
Antonio Federighi Antonio Federighi (circa 1420 – 1490) was an Italian People, Italian architect and sculptor of the Renaissance period. He was born and active mainly in Siena, Italy. He began as a sculptor for the Duomo of Siena, and worked there alongside Jaco ...
, 1465–1468


Notes


External links

*
Slides of Siena Cathedral by Branson DeCou from the UC Santa Cruz Library Digital Collections
{{Authority control Buildings and structures completed in 1215 Churches completed in the 1210s 13th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy
Cathedral A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...
Siena Siena ( , ; traditionally spelled Sienna in English; ) is a city in Tuscany, in central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. It is the twelfth most populated city in the region by number of inhabitants, with a population of 52,991 ...
Gothic architecture in Siena Unfinished cathedrals Church buildings with domes 13th-century establishments in the Republic of Siena Cathedrals in Tuscany